Hunting rules in New Jersey too lax already: letter

Star-Ledger file photoA black bear wanders through the side yard of a home located on Brook Valley Road in Kinnelon.

We are hearing some people say they are afraid to allow children to play in backyards due to the occasional appearance of black bears. Do they know the state game councils increase animal populations by altering habitat and feeding both public and private lands? Are they aware that the Division of Fish and Wildlife has refused to enforce the ordinance requiring residents of bear country to secure their food (garbage) in order to build more complaints?

How safe do they think children will be with the passing of the "perimeter bill"? This bill makes it legal for bow hunters to release arrows from an elevated platform 100 feet away from an occupied building. We are not talking abut 100 feet from the property boundary but 100 feet from the back door. The required distance was 400 feet before this bill was passed. There is also an effort to reduce the safety zone for shotgun hunting from 450 to 150 feet. Imagine arrows and bullets invading your backyard.

These changes are supported by the hunting industry as a way of opening more suburban space to hunting and thus selling more licenses. Many who approve of these measures are the same individuals claiming they cannot let children play in the backyards. What were our state senators and Assembly persons thinking when they voted to pass this bill? Do they have any regard for the opinion and welfare of the state's citizens? Only 1.4 percent of New Jersey residents hunt.